Car makers constantly look for ways to fill "hot" market segments,
and since those segments appear quickly, timing is very important. Over
the last few years, the hottest sedan segment is the under-$30,000
mid-luxury class. So for Infiniti to participate, things were simple:
take the outstanding new Maxima from its parent company Nissan, dress it
up more formally, then coddle its buyers in sparkling showrooms.

The I30 was introduced to fill the gap between Infiniti's
since-departed entry-level G20 and the pricey rear-wheel-drive J30.
There are two I30 models: the top-line Touring, and the I30 Standard.

OUTSIDE - We lined the '98 I30 up next to an original 1996 model and
found the two nearly identical. We then lined it up next to a '98 Maxima
and found the roof line and doors to be the same, but the overall look
different. This year brings new headlamps to the I30 with the trendy
"jeweled" effect, and a new tail lamp cluster similar to that used on
the most expensive Infiniti of the three-model line, the Q45. The finely
detailed formal grille is a noticeable departure from the Nissan norm,
while the tail is clean and nicely squared. Trunk space is voluminous at
over 14 cubic feet, and its opening is wide with a low lift-over. A
handy pass-through opening in the rear seat's center armrest allows the
transporting of long items, but the seat itself doesn't fold. Our test
model, called the Standard by Infiniti, comes equipped with 15-inch
aluminum wheels and all-season 205/65 tires.

INSIDE - I30 has one of the most spacious interiors in its group.
It's classified as a midsized car by the EPA, unlike many of its direct
competitors, and can easily haul five adults comfortably. Both I30
models come with wide bucket seats up front, covered in either cloth
upholstery, or new perforated leather. The center console has been
revised for 1998, as have the climate controls and cupholders. Our test
model had lots of standard features which included power seats, outside
mirrors, windows and door locks, a 200-watt AM/FM/CD/cassette system,
cruise control and variable speed intermittent wipers. Infiniti's
optional Leather and Convenience package adds leather upholstery, a
power sunroof, automatic day-night inside rearview mirror, and a
Homelink transmitter in the driver's sunvisor.

ON THE ROAD - The I30 also shares its powertrain with the Maxima.
Both were introduced using a new 3.0 liter V6 engine with twin cams and
four valves per cylinder. It produces 190 smooth horsepower and 205
lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 mph time of seven seconds, it is one of the
quickest sedans in the near-luxury class. Power is delivered to the
front wheels over a wide rpm range, and becomes available at almost any
speed. Transmission choices aren't usually offered in this class, but
the I30 is available with either a standard equipment five-speed manual
transmission, or an electronically-controlled four-speed automatic. We
drove I30s with both, and the five-speed was by far the sportier of the
pair. A viscous limited-slip differential is optionally available with
the standard model and a no-charge item with the I30 Touring.

BEHIND THE WHEEL - Underneath the I30 is an independent front
suspension with MacPherson struts, coil springs and a thick anti-roll
bar. The rear setup uses a beam axle with multi-links and coil springs,
and an even thicker anti-roll bar. Our standard model's suspension was
tuned for a smooth comfortable ride, made to soak up potholes and broken
pavement with ease. The I30 is packed with more insulation than its
sister, the Maxima, so even those corduroy-surfaced segmented freeways
didn't allow much noise inside. Its steering is quick and powerful, and
uses speed-sensitive boosting to give more road feel at highway speeds.
The braking system is top-notch: four-wheel discs with anti-lock (ABS),
which gave us steady stops at many different speeds. Fading became
apparent after repeated high-speed stops, but exhibited virtually no
front end dive in panic stop situations.

SAFETY - Two airbags are in the dash, and two more are sewn into the
front seats. Side-impact crush protection and ABS are also standard.

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